The Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) started the new year off with a huge bang in the choice of The Mystery of Irma Vep: A Penny Dreadful, a farce of melodramatic proportions. With a convoluted story line that takes the audience from a Victorian parlor to Egypt and haunted woods and attics, Vep is an ambitious and wildly funny romp.
With two exceptional actors, Marcus Truschinski and Rob Johansen, playing seven different roles (including a couple of women), and snappy direction by James Still, the play by Charles Ludlam moves along with slamming doors and quick costume changes. Set in Mandacrest Estate, home of Lord Edgar, an Egyptologist, and his second wife, Lady Enid, the tale begins. Lord Edgar’s first wife, Irma Vep, is still much in his heart, and a maid, Jane Twisden and a swineherd, Nicodemus Underwood, have strong opinions about the nervous new missus. Enid is attacked by a vampire, and Edgar seeks answers in an Egyptian tomb, resurrecting the mummy of an Egyptian princess. Returning home with the sarcophagus, Edgar prepares to hunt down the werewolf he blames for the death of his son and first wife. Meanwhile, Enid discovers Irma locked away. Enid frees Irma only to discover the prisoner is maid Jane, who is a vampire, and the killer of Irma as well as her and Edgar’s son. Nicodemus, now a werewolf, kills Jane, only to be shot dead by Edgar. In the end, Enid prevents Edgar from writing about his experiences in Egypt, revealing she was the princess herself, the whole thing an elaborate sham by her father to discredit Edgar. And it all ends with a happily ever after (sort of). It’s just the wild and wicked ticket for dark-and-gloomy Midwest winter nights.
The Mystery of Irma Vep and will play through Feb. 14 on the Upperstage. Tickets are $25-$59. Visit www.irtlive.com for more information.
